Trent Merrin

[Old skool Dragon]

Haha to good old mate

Hes gunna be huge for us Brother... As for Lomax getting fullback..tells me there gunna drop Duff man...keep him for back up until Lomax fails or gets injured. But the majkr reason is to push Dufty out to sign Sailor...as it makes sense him being utility he could pop up anywhere for us.
Our centres to have a massive one. I always liked aitken..and hes actually quite fast and cant slow down to think when he makes a bust and soesnt pass or screws play..thats because his passion and commitment for the team, he just needs to stay calm... His leg drive is enormous and body to weigh t ratio he is a machine

 

[Gareth67]

Im in the middle of decision of your POST.Merlin i think would be an upgarde over luch as i have written my opinion about luch..slow defence line no push up...BAD DEFENDER.cant have any weakness in defence in 2020.
Merlin on the other hand has so so much experience and i seen him today on that post of him and he looks way the fitter smarter person in 2015...i thought he was older hes only 30 hes prime is now whith his experience. 3 yrs off merrin would be perfect he can slot back into his old 13 jersey back before JDB days.
Personally just my opinion mate

I can see the good side of having him back - to a degree . Undoubtedly he would had picked up more ball skills in the ESL which would be of tremendous value at the Dragons . However with the maestros ‘ bash & barge ‘ policy he simply may not be able to display them .

I must confess that I thought the man was somewhat older then 30 , but for all the tea in China ( and there’s a hell of a lot ! ) I can see no merit in having him instead of a much younger player whom also exhibits the same ball skills and is yet to reach his full potential. Merrrin star is on the wane , whereas Lucinano is still rising , but now it will be the Tigers whom shall benefit.

 

[merahputih]

Regardless of how I look at Merlin’s possible signing I just cannot wrap my head around the fact that Luc will be let go to accommodate him - it is just so damn wrong .

Still who are we to question the logic of these Demi - Gods of the rugby league world , after all they have successfully been running the once mighty Dragons into the ground for the last 7 to 8 years ?

It’s getting that way now whereas I am too afraid to look at any more rumors concerning our mob as they are all going to be bad .

.

Regardless of how I look at Merlin’s possible signing I just cannot wrap my head around the fact that Luc will be let go to accommodate him - it is just so damn wrong .

Still who are we to question the logic of these Demi - Gods of the rugby league world , after all they have successfully been running the once mighty Dragons into the ground for the last 7 to 8 years ?

It’s getting that way now whereas I am too afraid to look at any more rumors concerning our mob as they are all going to be bad .

...or cast a spell on Mary and turn him into Craig Bellamy.

 

[Old Kogarah Boy 1]

Where are the F N backs? Ray Charles doing a great job running recruitment

Stevie Wonder is scouting all the wallflowers as we speak.
Stay tuned for some big announcements.

I think their going to put out a complilation album!

"Oh when the Saints,
Oh when the Saints go marching on ......... without McGregor.
I'm gunna buy me a membership,
Oh when the Saints go marching on ....... without McGregor!"

 

[Gareth67]

.

...or cast a spell on Mary and turn him into Craig Bellamy.

Oh ! Mate I had no idea about Merlin . It’s that bluudy iPad word correction thingy ma jig - the bluudy thing just ain’t working - again .
But it would be great if he could cast that type of spell - come to think of it I get the bloke over to my place and he might be able to cast one to take a few decades of my age !

I would then sign him to a lifetime contract .

 

[Old skool Dragon]

Stevie Wonder is scouting all the wallflowers as we speak.
Stay tuned for some big announcements.

I think their going to put out a complilation album!

"Oh when the Saints,
Oh when the Saints go marching on ......... without McGregor.
I'm gunna buy me a membership,
Oh when the Saints go marching on ....... without McGregor!"

View attachment 34312

 

[True_Believer]

Regardless of how I look at Merlin’s possible signing I just cannot wrap my head around the fact that Luc will be let go to accommodate him - it is just so damn wrong .

Still who are we to question the logic of these Demi - Gods of the rugby league world , after all they have successfully been running the once mighty Dragons into the ground for the last 7 to 8 years ?

It’s getting that way now whereas I am too afraid to look at any more rumors concerning our mob as they are all going to be bad .

Look at it from a different angle. What incentive has Luch got to stay?

 

[Old skool Dragon]

I can see the good side of having him back - to a degree . Undoubtedly he would had picked up more ball skills in the ESL which would be of tremendous value at the Dragons . However with the maestros ‘ bash & barsh ‘ policy he simply may not be able to display them .

I must confess that I thought the man was somewhat older then 30 , but for all the tea in China ( and there’s a hell of a lot ! ) I can see no merit in having him instead of a much younger player whom also exhibits the same ball skills and is yet to reach his full potential. Merrrin star is on the wane , whereas Lucinano is still rising , but now it will be the Tigers whom shall benefit.

Awesome your on the Merrin train. To some what..thats where i say about luch good luck to ya if you want to be a Tiger... Merrin is a saint all over... And sometimes pride in the jersey can bring out the best in anyone...and thats Merrin as He Breathes being a Dragon.
Not a Rhino or a Tiger in that Matter

 

[True_Believer]

I see it a little differently. If Merin comes to the Dragons or not, it should have no bearing on what happens to Leilua. The obvious move would be to keep Leilua and move Frizell to lock if De Belin becomes unavailable. Millward needs to think a little outside the square and plan for action in the year before key player's contracts are about to end.

When it comes to spending salary cap, Merin should be a replacement for a retiring Graham and so, if Graham is not retiring than then there is no case for recruiting Merin.

Prop Rotation
Vaughan, Merin, K Sims, Kerr
Backrow Rotation
T Sims, Leilua, Frizell, Lawrie

Step out of your blue coloured glasses.

So the option with Luke is to bring in Joe gradually. If we move Frizz to lock to accommodate Luch, we are blocking Joe. So we lose him instead and then you are up in arms about that.

You waffle on about Millward making the wrong decisions, but you never look at the bigger picture. Your options are always knee jerk responses driven by your hatred of Millward and often have bigger long term impacts than what's actually happening.

You're on about keeping the juniors and buying like for like and this star or this star. I'm just glad you aren't running recruitment or we'd never get a chance to clean up the possm mess because we'd be broke and dropped from the NRL.

 

[TruSaint]

He Breathes being a Dragon.
Not a Rhino or a Tiger in that Matter

Pennies say hi

 

[Old skool Dragon]

Pennies say hi

Bad mistake...thats when are bromance ended... Now its flourishing again...haha i like this post.. But not. Him n sowie soon found out it was a mistake goin to the panthers.wish sowie came back with a vengeance to saints..anywhoo

 

[TruSaint]

Bad mistake...thats when are bromance ended... Now its flourishing again...haha i like this post.. But not. Him n sowie soon found out it was a mistake goin to the panthers.wish sowie came back with a vengeance to saints..anywhoo

Its ok mate, just having some fun.

 

[Old skool Dragon]

Its ok mate, just having some fun.

Haha yeah i loved it mate...pls be more other forum members with some sarcasim. Love it

 

[Gareth67]

Look at it from a different angle. What incentive has Luch got to stay?

None whatsoever , nor does any promising junior going through the ‘ Pathways System ‘

The simple fact is that we will not win a comp with a team of journeymen - youth with potential plus a mentor with brains and some degree of logic is the answer . Otherwise we had better get use to the ‘ fart ‘ end of the competition ladder my friend.

 

[Old Kogarah Boy 1]

None whatsoever , nor does any promising junior going through the ‘ Pathways System ‘

The simple fact is that we will not win a comp with a team of journeymen - youth with potential plus a mentor with brains and some degree of logic is the answer . Otherwise we had better get use to the ‘ fart ‘ end of the competition ladder my friend.

Yes mate,

The problem with journeymen is that you get, more of the same.
With young players / juniors, they bring excitement and the X factor with them.
Sure, they can make mistakes but they could win you a game.

Sure beats Plodder Inc.

 

[True_Believer]

None whatsoever , nor does any promising junior going through the ‘ Pathways System ‘

The simple fact is that we will not win a comp with a team of journeymen - youth with potential plus a mentor with brains and some degree of logic is the answer . Otherwise we had better get use to the ‘ fart ‘ end of the competition ladder my friend.

I agree, but let's look at what's stopping him.

Firstly, Luch looks to be an edge forward. We have 2 of the best in the league. I'm guessing we will be keeping them for a bit longer so Luch get's a look in when one is injured OR he comes off the bench for limited time. This could go on for a number of years yet and delays his career.

Secondly, Mary. Even if there was an opportunity to bring him into the team, we have a coach that only puts the juniors in as a last resort. There's no pathway into NRL purely because the coach prefers his pick and stick approach.

Thirdly, juggling the team around to accommodate him either restricts other players coming through OR moves someone from their preferred and best position into one where they don't perform as well. Which, in the case of possm talking about moving Frizz into Lock, takes Frizz from his best position as an edge forward and forces him into a tackling machine in the middle. I somehow can't see Frizz wanting to hang around doing that for a year and I'd guarantee, if he wasn't already looking to move on, that would seal his fate.

This is why Luch and Robson are moving on. We've got a solid base in those edge forwards/lock/hooker. That's why we got rid of Thommo - as an edge forward, as good as he was, he was excess once we had Sims and Frizz and we had a few good ones already coming through the ranks. I'm also guessing that is why players like Host are allowed to look elsewhere. Those positions are locked down for a number of years and anyone coming through will struggle to secure a spot. Better for them to look elsewhere if they want to progress their career.

I would have liked us to keep Luch, but I also don't begrudge him looking elsewhere - he wants to make his mark and find a regular first grade spot (I'm guessing starting - as any young player would want) and that's going to happen elsewhere. Same with Robson. Looks as though cowboys are going to offload Granville to secure Mitchell, and that would place Robson in the prime position for a starting spot. There is no way he would have got that here given we have Cam in the middle and likely captain going forward. Robson was always going to play second fiddle and there was no reason for him to stay. No sales pitch could hide this fact - no matter what some people believe.

At this stage, I'd be more keen to keep the likes of Lomax and Ford. Our centres need a refresh and those 2 are key going forward.

 

[TruSaint]

Yes mate,

The problem with journeymen is that you get, more of the same.
With young players / juniors, they bring excitement and the X factor with them.
Sure, they can make mistakes but they could win you a game.

Sure beats Plodder Inc.

Its not Trent personally Im against.

Its the whole frickin trend of how we are planning for the future. From Luke to Merrin, promising Zac a FB spot as a last stop measure to keep him, the whole place reeks of desperation. We joke a lot here and thats to keep us sane, but seriously we are nearly in December and the team we have assembled thus far is both incomplete and poor. Its a bottom 3-4 side.

There will be no big announcements. We have been told that.

Like buffoons we waited to hear the Flanno announcement ( many suggesting it cant be made until after his December ban date, which I called as BS ), and now we find out its a ONE year deal.

How is that comfort for anyone ? We DON'T know who the new CEO is. Anyone still under the illusion that Flanno will be a cert for head coach hasn't been keeping up to date. Our track record for a decade now has been woeful. As is the case EVERY year, coaches will get sacked. Does anyone really think that Flanno wont position himself for a job in 2 years time elsewhere ? Like Merrin / Luke , he got thrown a lifeline by the philanthropic Saints.

 

[Old Kogarah Boy 1]

Its not Trent personally Im against.

Its the whole frickin trend of how we are planning for the future. From Luke to Merrin, promising Zac a FB spot as a last stop measure to keep him, the whole place reeks of desperation. We joke a lot here and thats to keep us sane, but seriously we are nearly in December and the team we have assembled thus far is both incomplete and poor. Its a bottom 3-4 side.

There will be no big announcements. We have been told that.

Like buffoons we waited to hear the Flanno announcement ( many suggesting it cant be made until after his December ban date, which I called as BS ), and now we find out its a ONE year deal.

How is that comfort for anyone ? We DON'T know who the new CEO is. Anyone still under the illusion that Flanno will be a cert for head coach hasn't been keeping up to date. Our track record for a decade now has been woeful. As is the case EVERY year, coaches will get sacked. Does anyone really think that Flanno wont position himself for a position in 2 years time elsewhere ? Like Merrin / Luke , he got thrown a lifeline by the philanthropic Saints.

Tru, you make Fair comment which l wholeheartedly agree with.

The sticking point for me is a winning nrl coach, playing assistant to the likes of McGregor.
It really does not make any sense.
McGregor will either throw Flanno under the bus when they don’t agree on things and or Flanno will cut his loses if he has enough of McGregor.

Who gets the praise if the team start performing?
Who gets the bullet if the team doesn’t perform.
Flanagan is not your everyday assistant.
He’s there only because of his former circumstances.

I wish l could feel positive about the whole thing but l don’t know what to think or expect. It could play out many ways.

 

[TruSaint]

Tru, you make Fair comment which l wholeheartedly agree with.

The sticking point for me is a winning nrl coach, playing assistant to the likes of McGregor.
It really does not make any sense.
McGregor will either throw Flanno under the bus when they don’t agree on things and or Flanno will cut his loses if he has enough of McGregor.

Who gets the praise if the team start performing?
Who gets the bullet if the team doesn’t perform.
Flanagan is not your everyday assistant.
He’s there only because of his former circumstances.

I wish l could feel positive about the whole thing but l don’t know what to think or expect. It could play out many ways.

Yeah, all good questions.

One more to add, as it relates to the whole "decision making " process. Who will be the next CEO ?

Like him or hate him, Flanno has a title under his belt. Things go pear shaped, or if he cant see a path forward, he will prepare for his next gig.

He has 24 months to do so, whilst being paid for 12 of those.

 

[Gareth67]

I agree Tru _ Believer , we do possess a couple of good forwards whom are ahead in the pecking order in Frizzell and Simms ( when fully fit ) however Luc should had been made part of the starting 17 some time back . Move the man around the pack as his basic ball skills still would had come to the fore .

And of course Mary is a larger stumbling block than the rock of Gilbrator in every facet of youth progressing any further plus the team itself becoming a cohesive unit . Enough said there .

I believe that the fatigue problems that the Dragons have experienced over the maestros tenure could had been lessen if he had rotated our forwards more often . For instance bringing Luc into the game at the end of each half would had given the team another dimension in attack more so with his explosive bursts and ever so silky ball skills .

But mate the main thing is is that we have lost him and Trent Merlin will be back in the Dragon colors net season . I wish them both the very best and hope that they are able to achieve their goals .